State parks REACH program offers overnight learning campus for students

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The Kentucky State Parks Recreation, Environment And Cultural History (REACH) Camp is a unique overnight educational program for school groups. Trained naturalists and recreational staff design custom programs to help encourage student interest in nature, history and outdoor activities. This offers an innovative way to teach students about Kentucky’s cultural, natural and historical resources.

The “camps” can be tailored to a group based on what students are studying, as long as it fits into the basic resources of the park. For example, General Butler can offer an archeological study, Blue Licks Battlefield has its Revolutionary War history and a 125-foot-wide waterfall makes hydrology fascinating at Cumberland Falls. Every REACH camp includes a fun evening program like an owl prowl, astronomy or stories around the campfire.

Available at most Kentucky State Resort Parks, REACH camps are held November – May for classes of 20 or more participants. Lodging is based on four guests to a lodge room, and a minimum of one chaperone or teacher per every eight students is required.

The end result is that students get to experience the great outdoors and Kentucky history where it took place. Activities such as aquatics, state history, plant identification and outdoor skills supply educators with valuable teaching components and make learning fun. These activities give students experiences that relate to every course of study, including natural science, math, history, language arts and social skills.

Call the resort park of your choice today and ask for the group sales coordinator to schedule a REACH camp experience. For more details, visit “Parks (Parks)”:http://www.parks.ky.gov<http://www.parks.ky.gov or call Lisa Deavers at (502) 564-4940, ext. 246.